The Crafts Council UK is delighted to announce the launch of a new Award scheme for 
curators.

The Award

This annual Award scheme will enable successful applicants to each receive a £5,000 Award 
(inclusive).

The Spark Plug Curator Award scheme aims to provide each year a minimum of four 
selected curators the opportunity to develop an ambitious and innovative exhibition project.

Award Objectives:

        To enable the development of curatorially robust and innovative projects through front 
end research and development.

        To provide leverage for funding applications. 
        Increase the number of challenging and pioneering craft based exhibitions available 
nationally and regionally. 
        Drive the debate into the role of craft in the 21st century.

Criteria.

The Crafts Council Spark Plug Curator Awards are aimed at curators to enable the research 
and development of a proposed exhibition idea or concept. Each Spark Plug Curator Award 
consists of a fixed fund from the Crafts Council of £5,000 (inclusive) and lasts for the fixed 
period of 12 months of research activity, during which time the awardees are required to 
research and develop an original exhibition project.

The application must outline an ambitious and inventive exhibition proposal which engages 
with contemporary craft.

Projects that engage with the following themes are encouraged:

·       Interdisciplinary & New contexts; craft in the 21st century; for example: fashion, 
architecture, design, visual arts.

·       Internationalism 
·       Globalism & Identity

The proposal can be for an exhibition or curatorial event inside or outside the gallery space. 
Proposals for projects that address the content of the exhibition, concept and staging of the 
exhibition in imaginative, creative and original ways are welcomed.

Application process:

The application process has two phases:

1.      Submission of an application; information requested is: 
        proven curatorial experience within the field (CV); 
        an outline of the exhibition proposal; 
        an indication of the use of the budget for the research and development phase of the 
project (covered by the Award) and indication of the budget required for the completed 
project, and timescale;

        proven support of a venue, and indication of possible tour venues. 
2.      Applications will be short listed from the submitted forms. The second phase of the 
selection will be through project presentation and interview.

Who can apply?

        Applicants must be UK domicile. The project proposed must take place in the UK, 
although the idea may be realised as a virtual or web-based activity.

        Applicants must have a minimum of three years of proven curatorial experience, either 
as part of an institution or as a freelance curator.

        Partnership projects are welcomed.

Schedule;

Closing date for applications: 20th October 2007

First round selection: 25th October 2007

Second round presentation and interviews: 5th November 2007

Applicants informed: 12th November 2007

Project research begins 2008.

Please see attached PDF information on the Awards and if you would like further information 
about the Spark Plug Curator Awards, please see the Crafts Council website 
www.craftscouncil.org.uk or contact:

Annabelle Campbell, Exhibitions and Collection Manager
Crafts Council
44a Pentonville Road
London N1 9BY
Dir: +44 (0)20 7806 2521
Fax: +44 (0) 7837 6891
e-mail: [log in to unmask]


www.craftscouncil.org.uk
Registered Charity Number 280956

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